Chinese Mine Warfare in Vietnam - 1972
During the Vietnam War, the United States dispatched aircraft carriers and carrier-based aircraft to conduct offensive brawls, blockade Vietnamese ports, and China promptly assisted and took the opportunity to exercise mine-clearing capabilities.
On January 19, 1967, the US military launched eight fake mines at Haiphong Port for the first time. The main purpose was to test the world public opinion and conduct a mine test. On the evening of February 27th, the US military began to put mines on Mingjiang, Huibaijiang, and Rimeijiang. On March 5th, MK-50 and MK-52 mines were placed on Majiang in Qinghua Province. Among them, MK-50 is an airdrop sound mine, MK-52 is an airdrop non-trigger sinking mine, and the fuse is a magnetic, acoustic and water pressure combined fuse. These new generations of acoustic fuzes and magnetic fuzes combined with mines have made the North Vietnamese Navy, which has only old-fashioned mine-sweeping equipment, unpredictable.
In the early morning of May 9, 1972, US President Nixon declared in a televised speech that he would impose a mine-blocking block on the northern coast of Vietnam. The outer ring of Haiphong, Hongji and other ports can safely leave within 72 hours. Otherwise, it will be overdue. Subsequently, four aircraft carriers deployed in the Beibu Gulf can be prepared, and there are more than 100 sorties of take-off fighters. A large-scale mine-blocking blockade has been carried out on seaports such as Haiphong, Hongji, Jinpu and Huijiang.
On the afternoon of the same day, the Vietnamese ambassador asked for Premier Zhou Enlai, on behalf of the Vietnamese government, to ask China to help mine. In this regard, Premier Zhou Enlai and Vice Chairman Ye Jianying are very concerned and instruct the Navy: "The Navy wants to take enthusiasm. The maritime issue is a naval matter. The Navy is specializing in maritime struggle. China may encounter this problem in the future. You must be very Good research, China must further play a role." Commander Xiao Jinguang also emphasized support: "We must take advantage of this Dongfeng to grasp the construction of mine-clearing forces."
To this end, the East China Sea and South China Sea Fleet have successively organized the out-of-country mine-sweeping team, and sent personnel to form a “breaking mine investigation team” to understand the situation and bring back the advanced MK-52 mine fuze. The first minesweeping team consisted of five minesweepers, one for each of the 057K and 058 minesweepers, two simple minesweepers modified by the navigational boat, and one 312 unmanned minesweeper.
Haiphong Port is the largest port in northern Vietnam. At that time, the monthly throughput was 216,000 tons. After the mine was blocked, there were 26 merchant ships in 8 countries trapped in Haiphong Port. Many ships in China were also trapped in it.
From July 25th to 30th, 1972, five minesweepers sailed from Guangxi Pearl Harbor in batches. Under the guidance of Vietnamese boats, they passed through secret shallow waterways, concealed during the day, sailed at night, crossed the US military blockade, and arrived at Haiphong Outer Harbour. China's "red flag" wheel anchorage. The US military discovered that there were several small boats in the Chinese anchorage after the reconnaissance flight three days later.
Since the minimum speed of the 312 type boat is also 7.8 knots, according to the Vietnamese experience, the safe speed of the low-sensitivity MK-52 mine should be 2 to 4 knots. Therefore, the main engine was closed and the motorboat engine was attached to the rear of the boat. The way to allow unmanned boats to sail slowly in the minefield.
At 21:10 on August 12, 1972, the Chinese unmanned minesweeper exploded the first MK-52 mine at Haiphong Port, proving that the design was successful. Then on August 16th, the second MK-52 mine was again exploded. On the evening of October 10, the unmanned boat in a mixed minefield of MK-42 high-sensitivity mines and MK-52 low-sensitivity mines continuously blasted five MK-42 mines in half an hour, and then Sweeping a MK-42 mine and two MK-52 mines. The outstanding performance of China's unmanned minesweepers that night made the Vietnamese side look and asked China to send more unmanned minesweepers. Subsequently, China has dispatched 10 312 unmanned minesweepers into Vietnam.
During the whole process of mine clearance, the 312-type boat has carried out mine-sweeping operations in several ports in Vietnam. It removed 10 MK-52 mines and 21 MK-42 mines, accounting for 76% of the total number of mines that it went to. In addition to the damage to the No. 13 boat, a comrade who was on the boat died, and nine comrades were injured. The other boats and personnel were free from casualties. It also fully proves the important role of unmanned warships in the field of mine clearance.
After the 312 unmanned boat, the Chinese Navy has installed a new type of unmanned minesweeper in recent years. This unmanned remote minesweeper is a sub-boat of a new type of minesweeper. It is a remote-controlled mine-sweeping device during wartime. It is usually a self-contained independent boat. A new type of mine-hunting ship as a mothership. It can command three unmanned minesweepers at the same time. It also maintains the spare cab of the 312 boat, which can be easily operated during normal sailing.
In addition, the new type of lightning destroyer equipped with minesweepers also appeared in the Chinese naval sequence. This kind of underwater robot can find and destroy enemy mines more conveniently, and the plot to use the offensive mines to trap the fleet is completely lost.
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